No Christmas dinner spread would be complete without everyone’s favourite vegetable, the humble Brussels sprouts.
I jest. Not everyone’s a fan of this mini-cabbage loaded with folate, vitamins C and K. Prepared by the clueless, sprouts will turn into soggy layers of leaves that squelch in your mouth which would stop even the most enthusiastic foodie in his tracks. Others complain about its bitter taste because of the high levels of glucosinolates located in the center of the sprout. Boiling them fast or simmering them slowly, the result will remain bitter. However, instead of keeping them whole, halve them and by boiling them in plenty of salted water, most of the bitterness would leach out.
Brussels sprouts can be baked, boiled, braised, sautéed, steamed and even deep fried. Also you can sous vide them, like I did in this incredible sous vide Brussels sprouts recipe. If you’re a cookbook aficionado, you would have noticed that it’s commonly paired with bacon, cheese, chestnuts and cream. If you want to go off the beaten track, the following ingredients would also work: almonds, mushrooms, mustard, nutmeg, sweet peppers, vinegar and walnuts.
This recipe was inspired by Carluccio’s take on brussels sprouts for Christmas.
For this meal I roasted a chicken which I roasted at a low temperature for hours while basting it with butter every now and then. Keeping the chicken company in the oven were slices of kabocha that came out super sweet and tender that complemented the savoury sprouts wonderfully.
If you noticed the quirky yet beautiful crockery and tea towel used in the photo, you can buy them at Rex London .
What is your favourite Christmas side dish and why?
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Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Blue Cheese and Pecan Nuts
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 1x
Print Recipe
Pin RecipeDescription
The perfect Christmas dinner should contain this brussels sprout side dish.
Ingredients
- 1kg (2lbs) brussels sprouts, peeled
- 30ml (2 tbsp) butter
- 150g (5oz) bacon, thinly sliced
- 150g (5 oz) blue cheese, crumbled
- 50g (2oz) pecan nuts, roughly chopped
Instructions
- Peel the brussels and blanch in salted boiling water until tender.
- In a separate pan, melt the butter and fry the butter in it until cooked and golden.
- Add the sprouts to the bacon and toss around to coat all over.
- Place the vegetables in a large serving dish and scatter with blue cheese and nuts.
Notes
You can use any type of bacon in this dish. Pecans can be substituted for walnuts and any blue cheese will do. Instead of butter use chili oil.
- Category: Side Dish
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 229.7g
- Calories: 354
- Sugar: 3.9 g
- Sodium: 547 mg
- Fat: 27.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 11.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 18.2 g
- Fiber: 7.8 g
- Protein: 15.1 g
- Cholesterol: 51 mg
P.S. This post was sponsored by Carluccio’s.
Pigs In Blankets because they are so tasty
I love the roasted parsnips – I just adore the taste and they are a treat as we don’t have them that often!
★★★★★
I love the roasted parsnips – I just adore the taste and they are a treat as we don’t have them that often!
★★★★★
I like Pigs in blankets as the only time we really have is at Christmas with gravy and stuffing yum
pigs in blankets, stuffing, sausagemeat, sprouts
the brussel sprouts the hubby cooks them with pancetta and garlic
Pigs and blankets just because they are a great combination and so tatsty
My dad homemade stuffing xxx
I like sausage, sage & onion stuffing
Red cabbage with apple,it’s just so delicious but not something we have very often.
I love stuffing with yorkies and gravy 🙂
My sister adores sprouts so we cannot have a Christmas dinner without them! I prefer savoy cabbage myself, but the addition of bacon and cheese does indeed make sprouts more palatable!
My sister adores sprouts so we cannot have a Christmas dinner without them! I prefer savoy cabbage myself, but the addition of bacon and cheese does indeed make sprouts more palatable!
Yay for sprouts recipes! I have one going live tomorrow too. I just love that you have added blue cheese to yours though. I am going to do that next time 🙂
I love sprouts both cooked and raw but your addition of blue cheese and pecan nuts is definitely the way forward. I am pleased your Thermocook is working out, I need to get testing mine this weekend!
I really enjoy stuffing at christmas
Pigs in Blankets
Roast sweet potato. A really beautiful alternative to the traditional spud.
Roast sweet potato. A really beautiful alternative to the traditional spud.
I do love sprouts. I love the taste.
I do love sprouts. I love the taste.
Love stuffing
pigs in blankets!!!
that’s a great use of leftovers : sprinkle crumbled blue cheese and chopped nuts! thanks for the great suggestions! R
I usually cook Brussels Sprouts with pancetta and/or chestnuts. Not thought of adding blue cheese as well. Shall have to experiment.
★★★★
I love honey glazed carrots and parsnips 🙂
Crispy roast potatoes, very calorific but delicious.
I just like Stuffing and a big jar of apple sauce
I just like Stuffing and a big jar of apple sauce
love pigs in blankets. It`s the one thing everyone eats this time of year
love pigs in blankets. It`s the one thing everyone eats this time of year
Pigs in blankets always are a winner in our house!!
pigs in blankets – i love them!
pigs in blankets – i love them!
I love pigs in blankets they are very moreish
Oh yes to this – all my favorite ingredients! Loving it!
mine has to be pigs in blankets. sausages and bacon – what’s not to like!?
★★★★★
braised red cabbage, as it can add a nice tangy taste to many a dish
I love chesnuts roasted
I am feeling very hungry after reading this!
I love spiced red cabbage with walnuts. It so delicious and Christmassy!
I love spiced red cabbage with walnuts. It so delicious and Christmassy!
Yorkshire Pudding as a treat!
Yorkshire Pudding as a treat!
Honey glazed roast vegetables are our family favourite.
Honey glazed roast vegetables are our family favourite.
Roasted parsnips!!! So yummy!!
Mine is probably the honey glazed roast carrots and parsnips 🙂 I do love sprouts though
Mine is probably the honey glazed roast carrots and parsnips 🙂 I do love sprouts though
I like stuffing as its tasty and we don’t have it that often throughout the year.
Our unconventional samosas or pancake rolls
I love pigs in blankets because of the salty/smoky taste and I also love sprouts sauteed with garlic, a tiny dash of olive oil and bacon, as they remind me of when I lived in the canary islands as I had them in a restaurant there and loved them.
I love pigs in blankets because of the salty/smoky taste and I also love sprouts sauteed with garlic, a tiny dash of olive oil and bacon, as they remind me of when I lived in the canary islands as I had them in a restaurant there and loved them.
Sprouts with bacon and chestnuts – we love them
Hmm, I dont really have one!
Hmm, I dont really have one!
Has to be roasted parsnips! Pretty much the only time we eat them and I look forward to it so much!
Has to be roasted parsnips! Pretty much the only time we eat them and I look forward to it so much!
Pigs in blankets are a big favourite
I really love sprouts and they are a nutritional powerhouse!
Stuffing 🙂
★★★★★
Pigs in blankets!
Roast parsnips with honey and sesame seeds
Sausagemeat stuffing balls because they taste good with the turkey
Pigs in blankets! – so yummy!
Bet I’m not the first to say pigs in blankets!
★★★★
Stuffing is my favourite, it’s really tasty.
Stuffing….it’s delicious!
Stuffing….it’s delicious!
I love stuffing! I went to my boyfriends parents for Christmas for the first time a couple of years ago and they served up some very sad packet stuffing. This year I made sure I offered to ‘help out with the cooking’ and made two tasty homemade stuffings – a sausage and chestnut, and a lemon, apple and herb. Both delicious and both went down well!
I love stuffing! I went to my boyfriends parents for Christmas for the first time a couple of years ago and they served up some very sad packet stuffing. This year I made sure I offered to ‘help out with the cooking’ and made two tasty homemade stuffings – a sausage and chestnut, and a lemon, apple and herb. Both delicious and both went down well!
Did you say Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Blue Cheese and Pecan Nuts? Yay!
★★★★★